This weekly update covers noteworthy restaurant openings and closings, dining news, culinary events, and entertainment news.
Events
The Golden Tiki — November 27
The Golden Tiki is inviting everyone to kick off the Thanksgiving holiday weekend with the return of their annual “Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” celebration from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The festive pre-turkey day event will feature all the treats from the iconic holiday TV special paired with fall-inspired tiki creations from Beverage Director and Snoopy Surrogate Adam Rains, who has also created a special boozy “Peanuts Punch” available for one night only. The classic Charlie Brown “menu” will include jelly beans, popcorn, pretzels, and buttered toast, served on the ceremonial ping-pong table (complimentary with any beverage purchase).
Reservations via the website thegoldentiki.com/reservations are strongly recommended, but walk-ins will also be welcome, subject to availability. The regular cocktail list and menu will also be available. You must be 21 or older to attend.
BJ’s Beer Dinner — December 9
The five Southern Nevada BJ’s Brewhouse locations will host a five-course Prime rib beer dinner featuring winter warmers and holiday beers from some of the world’s best craft breweries.
The dinner will include welcome beer of BJ’s 25th Annual Grand Cru; Sierra Nevada Celebration IPA paired with Sriracha Queso Dip; Shiner Holiday Cheer matched with House Salad with Balsamic Dressing; palate cleanser of N’ice Chouffe; Deschutes Jubelale paired with Prime Rib with white cheddar mashed potatoes and roasted asparagus; and Delirium Noël matched with Mini Salted Caramel Pizookie.
The dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m. and costs $45 in advance and $50 (plus tax and tip) on event day. Designated driver tickets (food only) are $30. To purchase tickets, click here.
Pick of the Week: North Italia
North Italia has opened its second Southern Nevada location at The District at Green Valley Ranch. The restaurant conceived by Fox Restaurant Concepts opened its first location in Arizona in 2002. The new Henderson outpost marks its 42nd store in the US.
The newly constructed building at 2235 Village View Drive is around the curve, past P.F. Chang’s across from the 215 Beltway. The interior is awash in natural light and greenery, with floor-to-ceiling windows on three sides and live potted houseplants on shelves throughout. There’s also a high wood slat ceiling and a wraparound bar that shares one side with the heated outdoor patio. The aesthetic includes hanging globe Edison lights and a black-and-white color scheme. Above the open kitchen is the phrase in Italian and English: Eat when you’re hungry, drink when you’re thirsty, sleep when you’re tired.
Open daily for lunch, dinner and weekend brunch, the current seasonal lunch and dinner menu offerings include Crispy Eggplant Parmesan with torn basil, fresh mozzarella, and spicy vodka sauce; Black Mediterranean Mussels with Calabrese salami and white wine and garlic butter broth; Bolognese with traditional meat sauce, pappardelle, wild oregano, and grana padano; Roasted Salmon with caramelized Romanesco, basil pesto, and affinato; Braised Short Rib Marsala with beech mushroom, Brussels sprouts, heirloom carrot, and black truffle risotto; pizzas like the Prosciutto with mission fig, goat cheese, and arugula; and Tuscan Kale Salad with crispy pancetta, charred grape, apple, pistachio, and parmesan vinaigrette.
The brunch menu brings an Italian twist with dishes such as Breakfast Carbonara Pasta with poached egg, pancetta, English pea, and pecorino; and Pollo Fritto—crispy chicken breast, Italian sausage gravy, sunny-side up eggs, and crispy hash potato.
Desserts include Pumpkin Praline Butter Cake with toasted mallow, pumpkin seed praline, and white chocolate crema, and Brookie Sundae loaded with pistachio, chocolate and strawberry gelato, dark chocolate, banana, strawberry, pecan, and chocolate pearls.
The craft cocktail program features libations such as Julietta, which features ginger and vanilla-infused Tito’s vodka, Italian elderflower, lime, and prosecco, and Turino Old Fashioned, which is made with WhistlePig PiggyBack Rye, hazelnut, brown sugar, and Angostura.
Some bonuses are fresh pasta made from scratch in-house daily. As with other North Italia locations, local beers are featured—the initial list here includes Able Baker Atomic Duck IPA and Mango Calutron Girl Wheat, Beer Zombies Boomstick Blonde, Big Dog’s Dog Daze Hazy IPA and Las Vegas Lager, and Las Vegas Brewing Co 1677 Stout.
For the hours and complete menus, visit www.northitalia.com/locations/henderson-nv
Dining News
Emmitt’s Vegas Offering Prix Fixe Tasting During F1
During F1 weekend, Emmitt’s Vegas in the Fashion Show mall will offer an exclusive prix fixe tasting by Concept Chef Steve Mannino and Executive Chef Antwan Ellis.
Available November 21 to 23 and priced at $150 per person (excluding gratuity), the menu includes:
- You have a choice of a starter of Caesar Salad with brioche croutons and parmesan, a Shrimp Cocktail with cocktail sauce and horseradish, or an Emmitt Roll with tuna, king salmon, Hamachi, avocado, serrano, and eel sauce paired with a glass of Prosecco.
- Entrée choice of Center Cut Ribeye with sauce Bearnaise, Beef Tenderloin with sauce Bearnaise, or Miso Glazed Sea Bass with ginger spinach and scallion served with a choice of Creamy Mashed Potatoes or Sauteed Spinach paired with A Golden Jacket Old Fashioned (Wooden Whiskey and spiced demerara syrup with a signature 22 ice sphere)
- Dessert choice of Parisian Chocolate Cake with raspberry sauce or Emmitt’s Butter Cake with bourbon caramel paired with Traditional Espresso Martini with Tito’s Vodka, Borghetti Coffee Liqueur, cold pressed espresso, and simple syrup.
For more information, visit: www.emmittsvegas.com.
Balla Italian Soul Offering Three-Course Thanksgiving Menu
Balla Italian Soul at Sahara Las Vegas will serve a three-course menu on Thanksgiving Day. Available for $70 per person (plus tax and tip), the menu includes:
- Antipasti choice of Tomato Focaccia, Prosciutto di Parma with buffalo mozzarella, Pickles with marinated vegetables, or Crispy Brussels Sprouts with pancetta vinaigrette
- Pasta choice of Ricotta Cavatelli with pesto Genovese and ricotta salata or Rigatoni Bolognese—beef and pork ragù with stracciatella cheese
- Entrée choice is herb butter-basted Roasted Free-Range Turkey with black truffle gravy or Pepper-Crusted Prime Rib with horseradish cream, beef jus, and garlic potato purée.
Guests 21 or older will also receive a complimentary glass of prosecco.
Entertainment News
Neon City Festival — November 22-24
The inaugural Neon City Festival, a free all-ages music, food, and art celebration, will convene over three days in Downtown Las Vegas. Neon City Festival’s footprint will extend from the El Cortez Hotel & Casino to Fremont Street Experience and the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center, down to Las Vegas Boulevard and The STRAT Hotel, Casino & Tower.
Stages for music acts will be at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center and the Fremont Street Experience’s Main Street Stage, First Street Stage, and Third Street Stage. Over 20 musical acts of all genres will be performed, with headliners Alison Wonderland, Neon Trees, Russell Dickerson, and Seven Lions.
There will also be laser art shows, cutting-edge art exhibits, strolling entertainment, a special 3D graphic show on Viva Vision (the Fremont Street Experience canopy screen), nightly firework shows at 10 p.m. provided by Plaza Hotel & Casino, and food and drink offerings from 16 food trucks, bars, and restaurants including an all-you-can-eat tasting provided by Omaha Steaks available for $100 per day.
For more information, visit www.neoncityfestival.com.
